Railroad-tie



1. JOHNSON AND G. c. cowugs.

RAILROAD TI'E;

APPLICATION FILED Al1G.7, 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 19121.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 1. JOHNSON AND G. c. cowuss.

I RAILROAD TIE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, I920- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVDITOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

JAMES JOHNSON AND GEORGE CARVER PATENT OFFICE.

COWLES, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, .1921.

Application filed August 7,1920. Serial No. 401,834.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that we, JAMES JoHNsoN and (inoeon Q. Cowmzs, citizens of the United States, both residing at Flint, in the county of Genesee and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to railroad ties, and comprehends the provision of a metallic tie designed to be readily and easily associated with the rails of a track, and when in position for use effectively prevents spreading of the rails.

More specifically stated, the invention provides a railroad tie having slots for the reception of the base of the rails, the slots being disposed relatively so that when they are associated with the rails they prevent spreading of the latter.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference denote similar parts in the several views, and where- Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of the track showing one of our improved ties positioned for use.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the track in section.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the initial position of the tie sections when associatin the latter with the rails.

ig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the tie.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates generally the tie forming the subject matter of our invention, and B the rails of the track.

The tie A is preferably made up from metal which is of substantially rectangular formation in cross section, the tie being hollow to receive a filler 10 which may be wood or any other suitable material possessin a requisite resiliency for cushioning the efl ect for the rails of the track. The tie includes two sections 11 and 12 respectively both of which are identical in construction, the corresponding or meeting ends being formed with flanges 13 which when the sections are related repose in face to face contact and have openings to receive fastening bolts or other suitable elements 14:. The section of the tie has its upper face provided with a slot 15, the slots being obliquely disposed across the tie as shown, with the slots of the respective sections convergently disposed when the tie sections are associated for use. By reason of this construction, it is obvious that when the base of each rail is fitted into the slot of the tie section upon which it rests, the rails are effectively prevented from spreading. The slots 15 are undercut as shown in order to lock the rails against spreading. The tie sections are associated with their respective rails prior to being joined together at the center, as shown in Fig. 4 wherein each tie section is disposed at an angle with respect to the rail which it is to accommodate, so that the slot 15 of the tie Section lies parallel with the base of the rail to receive the latter. After the tie sections have been positioned to receive the rail, the rails are positioned within the slots 15, the sections are then turned to arrange their meeting ends in face to face contact and subsequently bolted or otherwise secured together. The slots 15 then assume the position clearly illustrated in Fig. 1, which is oblique to the base of the rails so as to prevent spreading of the latter. The tie in its entirety is very simple and can be manufactured and sold at a nominal cost.

While it is believed that from the forego ing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, we

' desire to have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What we claim is:

1. A railroad tie comprising two metallic sections of substantially rectangular form in cross section and adapted to be arranged end to end, means for detachably connecting said sections together, each section having a slot at the upper face thereof obliquely disposed across said face, the slots of the respective sections being convergently disposed and undercut in order to lock the rails against spreading.

2. A railroad tie comprising two identical posed obliquely across one face thereof and sections arranged end to end, flanges formed undercut in order to lock the rails against on the meeting ends and arranged in conspreading. I l0 fronting relation, fastening elements passed In testimony WhGIGf: we affix our sigma 5 through said flanges for holding said sectures. v V

rtions associated, a filler for each section, and JAMES JOHNSON.

V g each section'having a rail receiving slot dis- 7 GEORGEOARVER 

